Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Upper Yarra Valley has an estimated 251 residents. Growth has averaged 3.1% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 100.0% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Upper Yarra Valley's population is around 251 as of Nov 25. This reflects an increase of 13 people (5.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 238 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 251 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 1 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 0.30 persons per square kilometer, a level providing ample space per person. Upper Yarra Valley's 5.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (5.4%), marking it as a growth leader in the region.
Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, Over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to contract by 10 persons by 2041 according to this methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Upper Yarra Valley experiences very limited development activity averaging less than 1 approvals per year (2 dwellings over the five-year period). Such low development levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is naturally limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note; the small sample size means that individual development projects can substantially influence annual growth and relativity statistics. Upper Yarra Valley naturally has much lower development activity compared to Rest of Vic.. The development pattern is also well below national averages. With population projections showing stability or decline, Upper Yarra Valley should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Upper Yarra Valley
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 23 current infrastructure and development projects close to Upper Yarra Valley, worth an estimated $3.03 billion. 8 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans environmental & disaster management, residential development and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects and planning initiatives. In total 0 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Additional VLocity Trains, Level Crossing Removal Project (Melbourne), Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury, and Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, with the below list detailing those likely to be of most relevance. Upper Yarra Valley has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Healesville Sanctuary Precinct Redevelopment (Stage 2)
A major expansion of Healesville Sanctuary focused on modernising visitor facilities and native animal exhibits to support critical wildlife conservation. Key components include a new Threatened Species Quarantine facility, a Raptor Recovery Flight Aviary, and an upgraded Australian Wildlife Health Centre Visitor Gallery. Ongoing works involve the redesign of the active play area and visitor amenity blocks to enhance the educational experience and save priority native species from extinction.
Maroondah Highway & Don Road Interchange Upgrade
Construction is underway on a grade-separated interchange replacing the existing roundabout at Maroondah Highway and Don Road in Healesville. The project includes a new bridge over Maroondah Highway, upgraded intersections, shared walking and cycling paths, improved safety barriers, drainage upgrades and landscaping to improve traffic flow and safety. Construction remains on track for completion in 2026.
The Memo Healesville Redevelopment
Restoration and expansion of the historic 1930s art-deco cinema and community hall into a modern multi-purpose performing arts and function centre. The venue includes a retractable seating bank auditorium, a hydraulic orchestra pit lift, a gallery space, and multi-purpose hire rooms (Nan Francis Room, Billiard Room, Meeting Room).
Yarra Valley Railway Heritage Line Restoration
Volunteer-led restoration of the historic Yarra Valley Railway between Healesville and Yarra Glen. The project includes reconstruction of rail infrastructure, bridge and station restoration, rolling stock overhaul and eventual expansion of heritage train services. As of 2026, public passenger services have been temporarily paused so volunteers can accelerate track restoration, rolling stock works and preparations for extending operations to Yarra Glen.
Graceburn Gardens Estate
Premium residential land estate offering large lifestyle blocks with Yarra Valley views. The project has been completed in stages, with lots likely fully released by 2024.
Mount Evelyn Water Treatment Plant
A critical back-up disinfection facility designed to secure Melbourne's drinking water supply during extreme weather, power failures, or maintenance at the Silvan Reservoir. The project treats water from three major underground mains that serve approximately 50 percent of Melbourne. To preserve local native flora, the plant footprint was reduced by 25m2 and the access road narrowed. Current 2026 works include mechanical and electrical fit-out, building enclosure, and connecting major water mains.
Morrison Reserve Master Plan 2024-2039
A 15-year master plan for Morrison Reserve adopted by Yarra Ranges Council on 28 May 2024. The first funded implementation stage, the Youth Activation and Bike Park project, is now under construction by Warrandale Industries following contract award. The works include an all-abilities bike park, youth activation spaces, social areas and associated public facilities, with completion expected during 2026. The broader master plan continues to guide future staged upgrades to sporting, recreation and pathway infrastructure through 2039.
York Road Upgrade
Potential upgrade to York Road between Swansea and Monbulk roads in Mount Evelyn, Victoria. Planning work and a comprehensive business case have been completed and submitted to the Department of Transport and Planning to inform a potential future upgrade. The project aims to improve safety, reliability, intersections (at Swansea and Monbulk roads), and walking/cycling infrastructure.
107 residents of Upper Yarra Valley are employed, from a labour force of 118. Unemployment sits at 9.3%, with participation at 46.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Upper Yarra Valley features a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with the construction sector a particular standout in terms of representation, and an unemployment rate of 9.3%. As of June 2025, 107 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 5.5% above Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (46.8% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%). Leading employment industries among residents comprise construction, finance & insurance, and wholesale trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in construction, with an employment share of 2.0 times the regional level.
Meanwhile, health care & social assistance has limited presence with 7.0% employment compared to 16.8% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to June 2025, the labour force increased by 0.9% while employment declined by 2.7%, resulting in the unemployment rate rise by 3.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where employment contracted by 0.9%, the labour force fell by 0.4%, and unemployment rose 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Upper Yarra Valley. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Upper Yarra Valley's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately increase by 6.3%% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Upper Yarra Valley is $900 a week (about $47,000 a year), with median personal income at $540 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $44,609 a year against an average of $52,748. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-22, Upper Yarra Valley's median income among taxpayers is $44,609, with an average of $52,748. This is below the national average, and compares to Rest of Vic.'s median of $48,741 and average of $60,693. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since FY-22, current estimates would be approximately $50,033 (median) and $59,162 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Upper Yarra Valley all fall between the 1st and 6th percentiles nationally.
Income brackets indicate the largest segment comprises 30.9% earning $400 - 799 weekly (77 residents), unlike trends regional levels where 30.3% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. With 46.9% earning under $800 per week, this suburb faces considerable income constraints affecting local spending patterns. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 3rd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Upper Yarra Valley had 92 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 100% detached houses and 0% apartments. 61% are owned with a mortgage, 4% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,100 a month. Rent absorbs 28.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 28.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Dwelling structure within Upper Yarra Valley, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 100.0% houses and 0.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Non-Metro Vic.'s 93.6% houses and 6.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Upper Yarra Valley was lagging that of Non-Metro Vic., at 35.4%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (61.0%) or rented (3.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Non-Metro Vic. average at $1,100, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $260, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $1,500 and $280.
Nationally, Upper Yarra Valley's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Upper Yarra Valley counted 92 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 97 today, averaging 2.1 people each. 16% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 37% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households dominate at 60.9% of all households, comprising 16.3% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.1%, with lone person households at 37.0% and group households comprising 6.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.2% of adults in Upper Yarra Valley hold a university qualification. A further 36.4% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (11.2%) substantially below the VIC average of 33.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 6.9%, followed by graduate diplomas (4.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 51.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (14.8%) and certificates (36.4%). Educational participation is notably high, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.6% in primary education, 11.7% in secondary education, and 0.0% pursuing tertiary education.
Educational facilities appear to be located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Detail
No transport stops were observed in the latest assessment of GTFS data for this area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.7% of residents in Upper Yarra Valley report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 80% of areas nationally. 5.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.7% hold private health cover. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Upper Yarra Valley with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts , and the rate of private health cover found to be very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~117 people). This compares to 49.6% across Rest of Vic.. The national average is 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be asthma and mental health issues, impacting 10.3 and 10.3% of residents, respectively, while 64.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.0% across Rest of Vic..
The area has 15.0% of residents aged 65 and over (37 people), which is lower than the 25.2% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics. Overall 5.9% of the total population registered as requiring assistance with day to day activities, which is a higher than average. In Rest of Vic., 6.7% require assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Upper Yarra Valley is largely Australian-born, at 91.1% of residents, with 1.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.6%) and Australian (28.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Upper Yarra Valley was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 79.0% of its population being citizens, 91.1% born in Australia, and 98.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Upper Yarra Valley was found to be Christianity, which makes up 18.0% of people in Upper Yarra Valley. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Buddhism, which comprises 2.8% of the population, compared to 0.9% across Rest of Vic.. In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Upper Yarra Valley are English, comprising 35.6% of the population, Australian, comprising 28.1% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 7.2% of the population.
Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Polish is notably overrepresented at 2.4% of Upper Yarra Valley (vs 0.5% regionally), Welsh at 2.1% (vs 0.4%) and French at 1.4% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Upper Yarra Valley is 43. 23.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
With a median age of 43, Upper Yarra Valley is equal to the Rest of Vic. figure of 43 and well above the 38-year national average. The age profile shows 55 - 64 year-olds are particularly prominent (22.4%), while the 65 - 74 group is comparatively smaller (6.9%) than in Rest of Vic.. This 55 - 64 concentration is well above the national 11.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 7.1% to 13.8% of the population, while the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 17.9% to 22.4%.
Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 17.5% to 11.0% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 19.7% to 13.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Upper Yarra Valley's age structure. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 3% (1 people), reaching 36 from 34. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 75 to 84 and 85+ cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Upper Yarra Valley
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2024 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2022, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2024 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Nov 2025, not a 2021 count (242 at the 2021 Census → 251 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Nov 2025. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2022, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (204011061). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.